Confirmation/Appointments Made--The U.S. Senate has unanimously confirmed Dana Gioia as the ninth Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. And President Bush has nominated four individuals to serve on the National Council on the Arts, including painter Makoto Fujimura and artist/illustrator Jerry Pinkney. Upon confirmation by a Senate committee, the council members will serve six-year terms.

Lights Go Up on van Gogh--"Vincent in Brixton," a drama by Nicholas Wright, opens at the Golden Theatre in Manhattan on March 6th. The play, based on true facts, focuses on the time a young van Gogh lived in England and stars Jochum ten Haaf as the painter. Tickets are available through Telecharge.

Milestone Reached--Artist and illustrator, as well as the widow of the painter Milton Avery, Sally Michel Avery died recently at the age of 100. Her work is included in the permanent collections of major art museums, and an exhibition of her work will open on April 12th at the Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery in Manhattan.

Lawsuit Filed--Sotheby's has filed suit against Pop singer Michael Jackson's production company. After successfully bidding for two paintings in October, the company failed to pay because the paintings "no longer fit into his collection."

Exhibitions:

Los Angeles, CA -- Los Angeles County Museum of art -- "Sargent and Italy" explores the unique relationship between one of the best-known American artists and Italy. The exhibit, which complements important works in LACMA's permanent collection, consists of more than 75 paintings. Through May 11.

Philadelphia, PA -- Philadelphia Museum of Art -- "Degas and the Dance" features more than 140 works that explore his fascination with 19th century ballet. Costume designs, stage sets, and photos of dancers are also included to provide added immediacy and context. Through May 11.

St. Louis, MO -- Saint Louis Art Museum -- "Painted Prints -- The Revelation of Color in Northern Renaissance and Baroque Engravings, Etchings and Woodcuts" features over 100 examples of German and Netherlandish painted prints and provides the opportunity to explore the questions these embellished prints raise. On view for the first time in the U.S. is a colored version of Durer's "Triumphal Arch," a 12-foot-high composite of 192 prints, as well as images by father and son print colorists Hans and Georg Mack and others. Through May 18.

Long Island City, Queens, NY -- MoMA -- "Matisse Picasso" is the first exhibition dedicated to the lifelong friendship and rivalry between two of the most important artists of the first half of the twentieth century. It features 138 masterpieces displayed side-by-side from major international public and private collections that rarely travel and that have never before been seen together. Admission to the museum is by timed ticket. Through May 19.

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 13 No. 5 -- March 2003